Choosing a Journal APS Professional Skills Course: Writing and Reviewing for Scientific Journals

Develop a List of Journals Where does your advisor publish? Where do your colleagues publish? Which journals are you reading? Which journals will you cite?

What Do You Need to Know? Importance/Significance of the work Target audience Journal scope statement Articles on a similar topic

Impact Factors ISI Web of Knowledge/Thompson Scientific –Average citation of an article for 2 year period Does not reflect some important aspects –Where were citations published –Controversial articles -> high impact factors –Does not measure half-life of article

Speed, Cost, and Access Speed of review Speed of publication Cost of publication Access policy

Journal Website Find the website –Scope statement –Editor and contact information –Time to publication –Author fees Look for Calls for Papers

Final Decision Discuss with your advisor/PI Discuss with your collaborators Select 1st and 2nd choice journals

Instructions for Authors Locate on journal website Read carefully Instructions for preparing the manuscript Ethical policies and standards –Authorship –Conflict of interest –Pre-publication

Overshooting and Undershooting Seek the advice of colleagues If you overshoot, be prepared for rejection Dont undershoot to guarantee publication Be prepared to discuss your ideas with your advisor

Submitting Your Manuscript

Submission Instructions Locate Instructions for Authors on journal home page Read carefully How to submit (usually electronically) Review process Time frame for review Forms needed for copyright and permissions

Before You Submit Proofread the manuscript, tables and figures one more time Accuracy Spelling/grammar Double-check the correctness of the figures/tables vs. manuscript Double-check the references Have your colleagues read the paper

Cover Letter Disclosures –Prior publication Published in abstract form Published as draft on web site (give location) Published another paper that is similar (give citation) –Figure adjustments Reviewer suggestions or exclusions Thank the editor

Add the Additional Forms Final version of manuscript Final versions of figures/tables Letter to editor (Cover letter) Correct forms (submission form, copyright, conflict of interest, etc.) Payment (if applicable)

Experience Issues Suggesting reviewers Excluding certain reviewers Querying Journal Editor

What Happens Next? Peer review